Sacred runner also helping run powwow

Paula Parrish
Record Staff Writer
Published Tuesday, Feb 14, 2006

Larry Bringing Good runs near his home in Stockton Credit: Michael McCollum/The Record

Larry Bringing Good is pretty busy these days.

On Saturday, he will be arena director for the Stockton Community Winter Benefit Powwow, which will be held at University of the Pacific.

But before and after the powwow, he will be participating in the 28th annual International Sacred Run. The 71-day event, which started this year with send-off ceremonies on Alcatraz Island, will cover 12 states and about 4,000 miles before concluding on Earth Day, April 22, in Washington, D.C. After the send-off, runners began the trek in Sacramento on Saturday and headed south, passing through San Joaquin County on their way to Merced.

About 100 runners will take turns running the cross-country route, relay-style, each day. Each daily segment covers about 100 miles, with stops planned at reservations and cities for ceremonies and events.

"I want to visit other tribes, other people, and not just Native Americans," said Bringing Good, 51. "There are issues that affect all of us, like health care, and I want to talk to people about them. We need to have a better understanding of all people and all conditions."

Bringing Good plans to return for the powwow, then rejoin the run, probably Sunday in Arizona. He anticipates up to 1,000 people will attend the powwow, which will feature several drum and dance groups of varying ages and nations.

"We will go through a series of ceremonies and rituals, starting with the gourd dance," said Bringing Good, who is a gourd dancer. He's an enrolled member of the Oto-Missouria nation on his mother's side and is Cheyenne/Arapaho on his father's side.

The powwow is free to the public, but it will raise money through vendors and donations for scholarships for American Indian students.

"There's a lot for people to see and learn, and I circulate and explain and help people to understand what is going on," said Dale Fleming, who is on the Stockton Powwow Committee and director of the Stockton Unified School District Native American Indian Center.

Contact Paula Parrish at (209) 546-8269 or pparrish@recordnet.com